NONGPOH:
The Khasi Students Union in collaboration with the KSU Eastern Border Areas, on November 7, 2023, conducted a raid on Nongtung Circle and subsequently submitted a formal complaint to the District Medical and Health Officer of Ri Bhoi district. The complaint centred on the pressing issues plaguing the Mawlasnai Primary Health Centre, which has been adversely affecting the people of Mawlasnai and its neighbouring areas, including the Block-2 border regions.
The delegation was led by Banjop Maring, the Education Secretary of KSU North Khasi Hills District Unit, and included officers and members from the KSU Raid Nongtung Circle and KSU Northern Border Areas. The complaint highlighted several critical problems, including a severe shortage of water supply, the absence of a doctor, and overcrowding at the health centre.
The union demanded action from the DHMO Office to ensure an uninterrupted water supply, appoint a qualified doctor, increase staffing, and expand the health centre’s infrastructure to improve overall patient experience and healthcare provision. Banjop Maring, addressing the media, stressed the urgency of securing an additional MBBS doctor and reported the DHMO’s commitment to addressing these concerns promptly.
Additionally, the union plans to meet with the Minister in charge of the Health Department to advocate for upgrading the Mawlasnai Primary Health Centre to a Mawlasnai Community Health Center, better serving the border area’s residents. It’s noteworthy that a prior KSU raid in Nongtung on October 10, 2023, had already led to demands for the resolution of the PHC issues and appealed for the doctor’s presence at crucial meetings, considering the vital healthcare needs of the people at Mawlasnai PHC.